Napping Increases Risk of High Blood Sugar

Anne Seccombe

I am sad to have to report that the odd afternoon nap appears to significantly increase the risk of blood sugar elevation and diabetes.

For a while now, we have known that getting less than the optimal 7-8 hours of sleep at night can have a negative effect on insulin resistance and blood sugar levels, but now it appears that napping during daytime hours is also bad for our health.

A study recently published in Diabetes Care has found from a prospective study of nearly 175,000 people that those who napped for less than 1 hour a day increased their long term risk of developing elevated blood sugar levels by 23%. Those who napped for more than 1 hour a day increased their long term risk of developing elevated blood sugar levels by 55%! Even more recent research by Dr Shahrad Taheri of Birmingham University has found from studying 16,000 people that as little as one afternoon nap a week increases the risk of developing elevated blood sugar by 23%.

More Information:

Xu Q, Song Y, Hollenbeck A, et al., Day napping and short night sleeping are associated with higher risk of diabetes in older adults, Diabetes Care, October 2009.

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